TWENTY-FIVE
Levi
She walksdown to meet me at the fire pit as I toss my clothes into the flames. We can't risk there being any evidence, and I already called my guys in to clean up the body and the barn. I don’t know if it’s better or worse that we do it so often, we have a near-flawless protocol in place. I take a long swig of my beer as I watch her hips sway on the walk down in some sort of thin nightie that Dakota must have purchased for her. It accents every curve she has, and it’s the last thing I need to be seeing her in right now.
“Can you get this button? My arms are sore from being in that position on the saddle stand, and it’s hard to reach.” She turns her back to me, and I get a waft of the soap she showered in. It’s turning into my favorite scent. I'll have to find out what the inn uses and keep it in my apartment once she’s gone. The thought of her being gone echoes through my head, and I push it away. I don’t have time for my own bullshit right now. I have to be here for her.
“Sure.” I close the distance between us.
She sweeps her long red hair over her shoulder and to the side, exposing her pale skin under the low light. The long line of her neck and spine dips down to meet her shoulder blades, like delicate wings beating as she moves. My dirty hands contrast against the pastel fabric of the nightgown, a stark reminder of where we stand. She’s barely free, and the last thing she needs is another man with a penchant for violence. Even if my causes are nobler.
I probably scared her half to death today, anyway, with how far I’m willing to take things when the situation calls for it. If she wasn’t ready to run back to the convent before, I’ve sealed that fate now.
“It’s a shame we have to burn it. It’s pretty.” She frowns at the sight of her dress being consumed by fire.
“I’ll buy you another one. There are plenty more in the cabin. Fuck, even this nightgown is pretty. Dakota has good taste; I’ll give her that.” I offer up a smile, trying to let us both come down from all the adrenaline of the day.
“It felt nice to feel pretty in front of him for once,” she admits quietly as she risks a glance up at me.
It grinds over my heart to hear it because the woman is gorgeous. Stunning in light like this. Even without her makeup or hair done. I still remember the first time I set eyes on her in person. The dull black of her uniform couldn’t dim the way her hair shimmered in the light, or how soft her skin looked, and how bright her eyes shone as she smiled and laughed.
“You’d look pretty in a paper bag. You know that, right? Whatever he said or did to you, whatever doing time with the rest of the chastity cheerleaders has convinced you of. I hope you know that much, and if you don’t, I’m happy to tell you as many times as you need to hear it.”
“Careful. I’ll pretend just to hear you say it again,” she teases, turning to look at me with a small smile on her face as hernightgown slips off her shoulder with the movement. A grin breaks on my lips in return, and I turn back to the fire, nudging the pretty set of lace panties she wore today into the heat of the flame.
“Having to burn those is the real shame,” I mutter without thinking it through.
“There are plenty more in the house.” Her voice has that melodic quality to it that I love so much. “Minus the pair you stole, but I gather we’re still not talking about that.”
“Probably better that we don’t.”
“What if I want to?”
“Meaning what exactly?” I take a draw off my beer, annoyed with myself for letting curiosity get the better of me rather than shutting this down immediately.
She stands a little straighter and crosses her arms over her chest.
“I was thinking that I’m free now, and all the things that means. All the possibilities it finally opens up for me.” She pauses and studies me.
“More once we get your money back from those accounts he hid it in.”
She shakes her head. “That’s going to be impossible.”
“Nothing is impossible. Not if you want it bad enough.”
“Well… I suppose you have a point there. I thought it was impossible to ever get out from under his thumb, and you managed that. But I still think some things are highly unlikely.”
“Like?” I’m curious what else she’s hoping we can take care of, but ready if I can take another worry off her plate. Especially now that I know just what kind of scum she was subjected to for years.
“You—sleeping in the bed tonight.”
My hand tightens around the bottle for half an instant before I realize what she's saying. She’s probably raw and vulnerable,processing a fuckton of emotions even if she did hate him. I doubt she wants to be alone. I’m not even sure if I would in her position.
“You know I don’t sleep much, but I can lie with you and keep you company. Happy to if you need it,” I offer.
“I’d like that. I just don’t want to be alone tonight.”
“You’re never alone here. I’m always around, and I won’t let anything happen to you.” I know the last few days have been hard on her, even if the outcome is one she could be happy with eventually. I’m sure she’s worried about what comes next. I’m sure news of Corey’s demise will only antagonize her father and draw out his ire. I need to remind Grant to bolster security later tonight.
